No.944
was one of Queensland Railways’ highly successful C17 class 4-8-0
locomotives, of which 227 units were constructed by a variety of builders
between 1920 and 1953.The C17 class
were a “maid of all work” type that were powerful enough for main line
duties, yet with a low axle load which permitted wide deployment and
accordingly the type could be found on everything from suburban and express
passenger duties to main, secondary and branch line work, although the type
are perhaps best associated with the long routes through Queensland Railways’
(QR) Northern and Central Divisions.The final C17 class members were retired from service at the very end
of QR revenue steam operations in August 1970.

No
944 is one of the “1938” C17 variants which were improved over the original
1920 design by use of piston valves, Laird crossheads, a wider & taller
“Sedan” cab sporting sliding windows, and a slender stovepipe chimney with a
capuchion lip.It was one of an order
for 20 C17’s supplied by Clyde Engineering, Sydney between 1948 & 1950 in
response to post-war motive power demands.

No.944
was written off by Queensland Railways in June 1969 but saved from the scrap
heap, instead being made available to the Miles Historical Village &
Museum in 1971.No.944 remained on a
siding at Miles Station until 1979, that year being the centenary of the
railway reaching Miles.In recognition
of this milestone, a group of 25 railway employees arranged for No.944 to be
towed on temporary rails across the Warrego Highway into the Miles Historical
Village & Museum for display.Here
No.944 is nicely presented among contemporary railway exhibits including the
relocated Dalwogan railway station.

My thanks
go to Chris Thompson for providing the photos of No. 944 on this page,
following his visit to the Miles Historical Village & Museum on 24
November 2011.

For
further information about the Queensland Railways’ C17 class locomotives,
refer to the page for C17 No.2.

Front view of No.944 at Miles

A fine 3/4 front view of
No.944 at Miles.

The widened cab of the post-war C17 class is clearly
visible.

No.944 patiently waiting on the platform road for the
signal to indicate "proceed".